Honeycomb structural body for exhaust gas purification

1. A method for manufacturing a honeycomb structural body comprising:

(i) providing a plurality of silicon carbide honeycomb segments each having a cell structure and at least one outer wall;

(ii) subjecting said honeycomb segments to an oxidizing thermal treatment forming a surface layer of silicon oxides on said at least one outer wall; and

(iii) bonding said plurality of oxidized honeycomb segments so as to form said honeycomb structural body in substantial absence of organic binders, with interposition of a sealing material consisting of a mixture of one or more silicon carbide powders, one or more ceramic fibers, and one or more inorganic binders, wherein no organic binder is added to the sealing material and wherein the one or more ceramic fibers have a length of about 0.5 to about 50 mm.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein (i) providing a plurality of silicon carbide honeycomb segments comprises (a) mixing one or more silicon carbide powders, one or more organic binders, one or more dispersing agents and one or more solvents to form a starting paste; (b) extruding the starting paste to form a green honeycomb structure; and (c) sintering the green honeycomb structure at a temperature of 1,500 to 3,000° C. under an oxygen-free atmosphere.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein (ii) subjecting said honeycomb segments to an oxidizing thermal treatment comprises (d) thermally treating the honeycomb segments in an oxygen-containing atmosphere at a temperature of 500° to 1,400° C. for 1 to 15 hours.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein (d) thermally treating the honeycomb segments is carried out at a temperature of 600° to 1,300° C.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein thermally treating the honeycomb segments is carried out at a temperature of 700° to 1,200° C.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein (iii) bonding said plurality of oxidized honeycomb segments comprises (e) applying a sealing layer with said sealing material on at least one outer wall; (f) joining outer walls of at least two of said honeycomb segments so as to interpose said sealing layer; and (g) curing said joined honeycomb segments.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said layer of silicon oxides has a thickness of 0.001 μm to 10 μm.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said silicon oxides are selected from amorphous and crystalline SiO 2 , and SiO, and mixtures thereof.

9. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said green honeycomb structure is dried to remove solvent and debinded to remove organic compound.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said honeycomb structural body comprises from 2 to 10 honeycomb segments.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein said honeycomb structural body comprises from 4 to 8 honeycomb segments.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a coating layer is applied on the outer peripheral portion of said honeycomb structural body.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said sealing material has a viscosity value lower than 200 Pa·s.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein said sealing material has a viscosity value of 100 to 180 Pa·s.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more ceramic fibers are selected from the group consisting of alumino-silicate fibers, silica-alumina fibers, millite fibers, alumina fibers, silicate fibers, alkaline earth silicate fibers, basalt rock wool fibers, and fiberglass fibers.